The artwork “Aquis submersus,” crafted by Max Ernst in 1919, hails from Cologne, Germany. Utilizing oil on canvas, this painting, which belongs to the Metaphysical art movement, encompasses dimensions of 54 x 43.8 cm. It is a symbolic painting currently housed at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
The artwork presents an enigmatic scene featuring a combination of architectural structures and abstract forms. A central feature of this painting is a pool, within which an anthropomorphic figure and a submerged object can be discerned. The background is marked by a surreal atmosphere under a darkened sky, punctuated by a distant clock tower. Urban buildings with flat, geometric shapes frame the scene, further enhancing the metaphysical quality of the painting. The palette, rich in earthy tones and muted colors, invokes a contemplative mood, inviting the viewer into Ernst’s dreamlike and symbolic universe. The deliberate arrangement of the elements in the artwork challenges perceptual norms, encouraging deeper reflection on the interplay between reality and dreamscape.
